An Erie night at PNG Field

SeaWolves keep Curve in big slump

July 11, 2014

It was just four days ago that the Curve won their sixth straight game, in walk-off fashion against Erie in 10 innings.

Since then, the Curve have now dropped four in a row, following a 12-6 loss to the SeaWolves on Thursday night. The nine-inning game lasted 3 hours, 45 minutes, and only a smattering of the 3,718 fans on hand for Zombie Night at Peoples Natural Gas Field stuck around until the end.

It was the Curve's second-longest contest this year. Their May 30 extra-innings loss to New Hampshire went 3 hours, 50 minutes.

The most recent win streak was the Curve's season best, and that followed a stretch that the club lost seven of eight.

There is no hiding that the Curve have had little success outside of playing against Harrisburg. They've gone 8-1 against the lowly Senators (36-55) but are 27-57 against everyone else.

Joan Montero (3-3) was rocked again and only managed to go two innings. He gave up five runs on five hits, four walks, didn't record a strikeout and took the loss.

Fact Box

Next stop

Tonight: Altoona at Harrisburg, 7 p.m.

Pitchers: Curve TBD vs. Senators RHP Brian Dupra (2-0, 1.40)

Record: 35-58

The staff's struggles, which included giving up 16 hits, also warranted utility man Andy Vasquez coming on to pitch the ninth. He allowed a run on a hit and struck out one.

Erie jumped out to an early 8-0 lead, scoring four runs in the second and three in the fourth. Former Curve catcher Ramon Cabrera belted a three-run home run to left field in the fourth as part of the the SeaWolves' outburst.

Curve batters did score four runs in the middle three innings to pull within 8-4. Stetson Allie, who went 3-for-5, started the rally with a double and scored on Dan Gamache's single to get the Curve on the board.

Gift Ngoepe capped off the middle frames with a two-run homer, his sixth of the year, cutting the deficit in half.

The SeaWolves struck back with a three-run seventh. Craig Albernaz reached on a hit by pitch and scored on Marcus Lemon's single, which put Erie up by seven.

Tommy Collier (4-7) pitched five frames for the SeaWolves, allowing two runs on four hits as he picked up the win.

Game recap

Key player: Erie DH Ramon Cabrera went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, including a three-run homer.

Key play: Cabrera's homer in the fourth put the game away for the SeaWolves with an 8-0 lead.

Key stat: The Curve have dropped four in a row, after having won six straight.